Music Row

This past weekend, my husband had the incredible opportunity to record his new EP in Nashville, TN. He recorded in the Quad Studios where many well known artists such as Taylor Swift and Amy Grant have also recorded. It was amazing to be in a place with so much history and to see my husband so excited about his music. God is so good to have allowed us this opportunity. John David Webster helped Joe produce the album and the musicians that played on this album have played with Faith Hill, Mat Kearney, and SO MANY other outstanding musicians. Please enjoy the photos from our weekend, and if you haven't already, like his Facebook page...facebook.com/joepaulsonmusic. Have a blessed week!!

Crafting

Having been inspired by Pinterest a lot lately, I decided to begin painting a canvas for every year Joe and I are married. These canvases will contain verses that have spoken to us from the Bible during that season of our marriage.

This years verse came from Matthew 6 when Jesus is challenging the disciples and crowd not to worry.

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

With producing 2 music albums, moving, and job changes we have been learning how to trust God even when things seem nearly impossible. He has ALWAYS provided for us, even when we weren't sure how our circumstances would shake out...

Here are some photos of my craft. (In reverse order!)

2. Finished product!

1. Purchase canvas, paint, and stickers. Put stickers on canvas and paint background color.

Lucas Oil Tour

With the Super Bowl recently being in town, I have heard a lot of people's stories about going to the NFL experience and touring Lucas Oil Stadium. People's pictures and renditions of their tour of Lucas Oil have brought back so many memories as this is where Joseph and I were engaged.

I was student teaching in Indianapolis back in November of 2009 and was picked up by one of my husband's friends (to my surprise). He came with a letter and my favorite drink and we went on a scavenger hunt to find my husband (then boyfriend). We made a couple of stops where I was given different gifts (giftcards, flowers, and more letters giving me clues of where to go next). We drove all over Indy to the Vogue theater, the art museum, and finally ended up at Lucas Oil where Joe was (finally!!). I mean, it was great hanging out with the guys, but not what I was expecting...

Joe introduced me to a man from his church and we toured the stadium. We saw behind the scenes media booths, the locker rooms (I stood in Manning's locker) and eventually walked onto the field where Joseph proposed to me on the 50 yard line. It was SO fun and such a special night to remember. The man from church even prayed with us and for our future on the field and the security guards were clapping for us up in the nosebleeds!

After our time on the field, we went out to dinner and on a carriage ride all around downtown. It was a FANTASTIC evening and we had so much fun together dreaming about what our future would be like.

The ring he gave me has stones from his grandmother's wedding ring and is absolutely gorgeous. He put it in a new setting and I was so impressed with his design skills.

It's been about 2 years since this proposal (which feels like a dream still) and I can't believe how much has changed. It is so fun to watch God work in our marriage and to mold us to be more like him. Two years later, we have graduated from Taylor, gotten married, moved twice, produced two music albums, switched jobs, joined an amazing church, and learned what it means to love sacrificially. We have much to learn, but it is fun to look back and see all of the things God has taught us over the last 2 years. I will leave you with some of my favorite photos...

School

Well, I'm about 2/3 of the way through teaching my 1st year of 1st grade. Today was just one of those days. While I LOVE my students, having 13 boys and 4 girls can get exhausting...and today just felt like I was spinning in circles!

My students LOVE going to music and have really gotten to know the music teacher well this year. He is very funny and the students love getting tootsie rolls from him. Today, three of my kiddos decided to take tootsie rolls off of his music stand because getting one just wasn't enough.

Upon learning this information, I was SO disappointed. While I realize children have their own sin and sin nature, this made me feel like a terrible teacher. MY students were stealing tootsie rolls from the music teacher. After music we skipped writing. I had them all sit on the carpet and we talked about when we take things that don't belong to us, this is stealing. We talked about Adam and Eve and about how blaming others doesn't make us less guilty. We prayed together and asked God to help us be self-controlled and not to take things that don't belong to us.

While it was a tough day and much of it was spent emailing parents, I was so reminded of myself and my sin. How often do I make poor choices and throw the blame on someone else or something else? How often do I take what isn't mine or lack a servant's heart? How often am I so wrapped up in my own world that I fail to see into anyone else's?

Father, I pray for change. Change in my heart and my life. Change in my classroom. I pray for 17 six (or 7) year old hearts completely sold out for you and ready to follow you. Help me to show them your love. Help us all to come clean with our sin and accept your forgiveness.

PS--While there are many frustrating, teachable moments, there are also many entertaining ones. For example, when they believe that I am 42. Or when they ask what happens to your brain when it falls asleep. Or just when they come in your room after school to tell you about their bloody nose. I LOVE them.